Pennywell Early Years Centre
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Sunderland for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 17:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in June 2022. Open since 2003, with 72 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Sunderland
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Sunderland from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
SR4 9AXWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 30 June 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this incredibly caring nursery. Staff are knowledgeable and dedicated to providing a secure environment in which children can learn and develop. Parents support this view. They comment that staff 'Go above and beyond' to support their children and the wider family. Children have an excellent relationship with staff. Babies greet their friends with cuddles when they arrive.
They enjoy sitting on staff's knees for cuddles. Older children are given the time and space to get to know staff and their surroundings. They form strong attachments with their key person. This is evident when children start to watch activities and gradually move to the play dough, safe in the knowledge that their key person is just behind them.
Children demonstrate exceptionally high levels of engagement for their age. This is demonstrated when two-year-old children concentrate intently as they learn how to use scissors. Expert support helps children to perfect their skills. For example, although children struggle to cut paper, staff adapt the activity effectively and children learn to hold the scissors to cut other items, such as stalks on plants. Staff help them to learn how to hold the scissors safely. Children learn that if they hold them close to their body or point the scissors up they may cut themselves.
- 30 June 2022Outstanding
- 24 June 2013Outstanding
- 1 November 2012Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Pennywell Early Years Centre
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.